The army of Israel-haters like to remind us about all the aid the American government gives to Israel. And it’s true: Israel is now given $3.8 billion in annual aid, more than any other country, though less than what Washington has been giving to just two Arab states, Egypt and Jordan. And that $3.8 billion annual […]
Are Bunker Busters Ready For Their Close-Up?
As everyone now knows, on the “sideline” of the United Arab Emirates’ agreement to normalize relations with Israel was another, separate but linked understanding, that at long last the U.S. would be willing to sell an undisclosed number of its top-of-the-line Stealth fighter jets, the F-35, to the UAE. Israel was not happy with this; […]
How to Compensate Israel for the Sale of F-35s to the United Arab Emirates
It now seems certain that the United Arab Emirates will get its wish, and the American government will sell it the advanced F-35 Stealth fighter jet it has long craved, now that the Emirates has agreed to normalize relations with Israel. But what, in that case, can be done to preserve Israel’s “qualitative military edge” […]
One Israeli General Who is Unworried by the F-35 Sale to the UAE (Part 1)
Opposition by Israeli military men to the sale of the state-of-the-art F-35 Stealth fighter jet to the UAE has been nearly unanimous. However, one important retired general thinks that even with that sale, there are other ways to preserve Israel’s “qualitative military edge” (QME). That story is here. A historic normalization deal between Israel and […]
Israel, the UAE, and Those Worrisome F-35s
Israel objects – and has been firm in stating its objections – to an American sale of state-of-the-art F-35 Stealth fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates. And while the UAE has taken the Israeli objections with ill-grace, security cooperation between the two nations is in every other respect, going like gangbusters. Here’s the story […]
Another Reason to Curb Your Enthusiasm About the UAE Promise of ‘Normalization’
The United Arab Emirates, apparently “outraged” that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has voiced his opposition to the sale of the state-of-the-art F-35 Stealth fighter jets to the Emirates, cancelled a public meeting that was to be held jointly with American and Israeli representatives. The story is here. A planned public meeting between the UN ambassadors […]
Notes On Normalization and That Sale of F-35s
Here are some developments connected to the announcement of the agreement between the UAE and Israel to “normalize” relations 1. Someone in the Emirates – a proud parent, perhaps? – has posted a video of a young Emirati girl playing the Israeli national anthem, “Hatikva.” It is being interpreted hopefully – by both Emiratis and […]
Memo to Erdogan: You can have the S-400, or you can have the F-35, but you can’t have both
Turkey, a member of NATO and — some still believe — an American ally, has been in the news of late because of its purchase, and then its taking delivery, of the S-400 air-defense missile system from Russia. It did this in defiance of the wishes of the American government, and of every other member […]
Hugh Fitzgerald: What Comeuppance For Erdogan?
Turkey wants to buy 100 F-35 joint fighter strike planes from the United States. The Administration, however, has discovered that not everyone in Washington thinks this is a good idea. There are many reasons to oppose this sale. First, Turkey has also decided to buy S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia. The contract has been signed. […]